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Proposed Australian e-health records system criticised

Both the Medical Software Industry Association (MSIA) and the Australian Privacy Foundation have criticized the private corporation established by the federal and state governments to roll out the federal government's proposed electronic health records. They have told a Senate inquiry hearing in Canberra that personally-controlled e-health records should not go live on July 1 as planned.

7 Feb 2012

BD first quarter revenues increase 2.5% to $1.888 billion

BD, a leading global medical technology company, today reported quarterly revenues of $1.888 billion for the first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2011, representing an increase of 2.5 percent from the prior-year period, or 2.4 percent on a foreign currency-neutral basis.

From BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 7 Feb 2012

How 'observation care' status can drive up patients' hospital bills

News outlets report that this kind of status is leading some Medicare beneficiaries to be surprised by the size of hospital bills because, ultimately, the services they received were not classified as inpatient care.

7 Feb 2012

GOP candidates: Santorum backs 'discredited' stroke claim, he and Gingrich continue attacks on 'Romneycare'

As the GOP presidential hopefuls continue sparring on the campaign trail, The Associated Press takes a look at the "influence game" and tracks how big donors pursue their policy desires. Meanwhile, House Democrats are betting that Medicare will be the issue that wins them control of their chamber.

7 Feb 2012

Viewpoints: Komen's retreat; Romney's selected support of Medicare cuts; Heritage refuses blame for individual mandate

A group like Komen only has the quality service it provides and goodwill garnered over the years to encourage donations and support. Its trademark pink is not as bold as before. For the moment, it seems drab and faded.

6 Feb 2012

MedTech Media to launch online publication for small and medium sized physician group practices

MedTech Media, publisher of the award-winning brands Healthcare IT News and Healthcare Finance News, announced today that it will launch PhysBizTech, a multi-platform, online publication for small and medium sized physician group practices on February 6, 2012.

6 Feb 2012

Express Scripts subsidiary commences private offering of senior notes

Express Scripts, Inc. announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Aristotle Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation, has commenced a private offering of senior notes of a benchmark amount.

6 Feb 2012

HCA fourth quarter revenues increase 8.5% to $7.769 billion

HCA Holdings, Inc. today announced financial and operating results for the year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011. HCA also today announced that its Board of Directors approved a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share to be paid to shareholders of record as of February 16, 2012 with a payment date of February 29, 2012.

6 Feb 2012

First Edition: February 6, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about the continuing fall out from the Obama administration's birth control rule and the latest on the Komen foundation's efforts to bounce back from the Planned Parenthood funding flap.

6 Feb 2012

Humana fourth quarter consolidated revenues increase 9% to $9.06B

Humana Inc. today reported diluted earnings per common share (EPS) for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 (4Q11) of $1.20, compared to $0.63 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2010.

6 Feb 2012

Have some for-profit hospices learned to work the Medicare system?

Lois Armstrong and David Daucher closed their for-profit hospice in October to get out from under more than $27 million in refunds it owed the federal Medicare program, they said.

6 Feb 2012

HHS offers progress report on shrinking Medicare's doughnut hole

A provision in the health law was intended to help fill a gap in Medicare's prescription drug coverage. On Thursday, administration officials said 3.6 million beneficiaries saved $2.1 billion on prescription drugs in 2011.

6 Feb 2012

Hospitals pay more for devices, according to government study

Some hospitals pay thousands of dollars more than others for big-ticket medical devices such as defibrillators and hip replacements, and a portion of the higher costs could be passed on to the federal Medicare program, a new government report says.

6 Feb 2012

Questions emerge about whether war savings can pay for 'doc fix'

House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp said that using war savings to pay for an overhaul of the Medicare physician payment formula is likely out of the scope of the conference committee's deliberations. In addition, the proposal faces political obstacles.

6 Feb 2012

State developments: Florida hospitals dodge budget bullet

Spending cuts to health programs will be less than half as much as forecast in the Senate budget, that chamber's health-spending chief announced today. Now, the Senate Subcommittee on Health and Human Services Appropriations will have to cut only $390 million from current spending levels, rather than the more-draconian $850 million that had originally been assigned, said Sen. Joe Negron, chair of the panel.

6 Feb 2012

Research roundup: Safety-net hospitals stack up well against others

This study compares ER performance at safety-net hospitals (those with a disproportionate share of Medicaid and uninsured patients) to non-safety net hospitals to see if proposed pay-for-performance measures could have a negative impact.

6 Feb 2012

States, localities seek ways to trim health care costs for employees, retirees

Officials in Providence, R.I., and Iowa propose changes in health benefits. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he'll use health care reserve fund dollars to make up a shortfall.

6 Feb 2012

Medicare, deficits and the politics of 2012

Reuters offers an analysis based on a recent poll and finds that people, shaken by the difficult economy, worry about the impact of efforts to address the nation's deficit. This concept could lead to Democrats finding traction for their positions on Medicare.

6 Feb 2012

Viewpoints: Komen takes a lashing; Is the safety net really intact?; Romney assails HHS' rule on contraception

With its roster of corporate sponsors and the pink ribbons that lend a halo to almost any kind of product you can think of, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation has a longstanding reputation as a staunch protector of women's health. That reputation suffered a grievous, perhaps mortal, wound this week from the news that Komen, the world's largest breast cancer organization, decided to betray that mission.

5 Feb 2012

With clock ticking, negotiators seek ways to pay for payroll tax, 'doc fix'

Lawmakers have different ideas about financing the payroll tax break extension and the Medicare physician payment fix. One proposal getting a lot of attention is using war savings.

3 Feb 2012